accompts, 18 April 1645, and in the end sent to the Fleet Prison. A deputation from the common council, headed by his friend William Gibbs, goldsmith, then sheriff, petitioned the Commons on 23 July for his release on bail. After a long debate on 4 August it was resolved that Fowke ought to 'accompt jointly with the rest of the late commissioners and collectors of the customs.' He was treated on all sides with deference. Under two decrees made by Lord Keeper Coventry, on 21 November 1631 and 9 June 1635, the East India Company had retained money of Fowke's. He petitioned the Lords, 8 July 1646, to have these decrees reversed. On 6 May 1647 judgment was given in his favour, with costs. After the First Civil War: the parliament-army struggle At a meeting of the common council for nominating a new committee for the militia of London, 27 April 1647, Fowke's name was ordered to be omitted from the list to be presented to parliament. However, on the following 12 June, upon a rumour of the army's near approach to London, he was asked to head a deputation to parliament to desire its approbation of the city's answer to Thomas Fairfax, and early next morning he set out with his fellow-commissioners to carry it to the general at St. Albans. He was restored to the militia committee by an ordinance of both houses dated 23 July and 2 September 1647. On 12 July 1648 Fowke presented to both houses a petition for peace, and delivered a short speech. The petition, which with the speech was published, expressed a hope that the parliament might take a course to secure peace. When a few weeks later the army returned to London, according to Denzil Holles, Fowke and Gibbs kept the city calm. Under the Commonwealth At the sale of bishops' lands Fowke acquired, on 28 September 1648, the Gloucestershire manors of Maysmore, Preston, Longford, and Ashleworth, the property of the sees of Gloucester and Bristol. He was named one of the king's judges, but refused to attend the trial. On 27 February 1651 a parliamentary committee reported that compensation to the extent of £27,615 ought to be awarded him. The matter was referred to a committee of the council of state, 9 September 1652, who suggested that state lands in Waltham Forest, Essex, worth £500 a year should be settled